Complementary therapy use amongst oncology patients: what are the messages for Cancer Centre Services? Part 1

Abstract

This study aims to examine two related contemporary issues in cancer care; why people with cancer use complementary therapies [CM] and what lessons there may be in this for Cancer Centre Services. The report will be presented in two parts. Part 1 is in the current issue and Part 2 will follow in the next. In Part 1 the main questions are identified and contextualised with the current literature on complementary therapy use. In Part 2 the method, results and analysis the survey and interviews will be explored. 148 patients attending the Leicestershire Cancer Centre returned questionnaires of whom 14 were interviewed in three separate focus groups. Patients from a cancer patient self help group were also interviewed as a fourth focus group. The qualitative data enabled a deeper analysis and evaluation of the quantitative data to be made. The discussion of the data places the main questions asked by the study into a wider context, including the Calman Hine Report and patient-centred care. The conclusions are that although a significant minority of patients [13%] were using CM at the time of the survey a significant majority of respondents [73%] identified a role for CM alongside conventional cancer treatment and 78% responded that staff at the Cancer Centre should be trained to advise them on the use of CM. The respondents acknowledged the resource and educational implications for Cancer Centres but stated that equal status should be given to care and cure in managing malignant disease. This in line with the Calman–Hine Report. Far greater numbers of patients may use CM if appropriate levels of resources and information were available. The findings indicate that integration of CM could assist in promoting future improvements in quality of survival and patient-centred care as identified by Calman–Hine and other recent health policy initiatives.